Central Christian College - First Friday Emails

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Spring is just around the corner bringing with it daylight savings time, baseball and softball games, classes and studying out on the lawn, and spring break.

ACADEMICS PBL State of Kansas Business Competition

Once again, Central's business students did an outstanding job in the Phi Beta Lambda state of Kansas business competition. Fourteen contestants brought home 43 awards: 16 first place wins, 16 in second place and 11 third place finishes. This is a record number of awards for Central, five more than the previous year’s high of 38. Students who brought home first, second and third place wins were Dylan Jacob c’12; Rich Martin c’08; Titus Brandt c’09, son of David c’67 and Marvel (Miller c‘75) Brandt; Justin Klooz c'09, son of Robert c’80 and Barbara (Quincy c’80) Klooz; Jonathan Foley c’11; Marc Seller c’10; Josh Bohnenblust c’10; Noni Smith c’09; Craig Tyler c’10; Daniel Hernandez c’10; Brandon Dicks c’09; and Heath Whitehouse c’09. Congratulations, too, to professors and club sponsors, Rick Hill and Jerry Fithian. Eleven of these students qualified to compete at the National Convention, June 21-24. Five contestants are planning to attend. The club is covering their registration fees and students are paying for their airline tickets, however, the group needs assistance with the lodging expenses which total $1,800. If you would be willing to help these students as they represent Central, they would appreciate your assistance. Mark your check “PBL trip” and we’ll return a tax-deductible receipt to you and credit their account.

During the January interterm period, the CCM Music Business class traveled to Nashville, Tennessee. Students were introduced to many different facets of the music industry. Comments like “this trip was probably one of the greatest experiences of my life,” “the trip to Nashville was nothing short of spectacular,” “everything we did on this trip made an impact on me,” and “the most enjoyable thing we did on the Nashville trip was surprisingly none of the ‘attractions;’ what I enjoyed most were the last three nights of devotionals......our open discussions on scripture and faith.” Professor Jacob Kaufman is doing an excellent job of introducing his students to the many opportunities in Contemporary Christian Music.

Two Central seniors were recently rewarded for their good work in the classroom. Laura Shirley c’08, from Bonner Springs, Kansas, completed the coursework for her Bachelor of Science in Business degree at the end of January and accepted a position with State Street Financial in Kansas City as a Fund Accountant. And Jen Coggins c’08, from Bellevue, Washington, recently received news that she has been accepted to Washburn University Law School in Topeka, Kansas.

ADMISSIONS
The next Preview Weekend for high school seniors is April 4-5. Qualified seniors will take a competitive exam to qualify for the Dean and President’s Scholarships on April 5. Auditions and tryouts will also be held for athletics, music, and drama scholarships. The Friday evening activity will be a benefit concert by the Contemporary Christian Music department. Two of Central’s bands will be performing as well as other local talent. All proceeds will benefit Mt. Hope Sanctuary, Inc. - a transitional home providing life-changing programs and support services for single women and their children.

ATHLETIC NEWS

Spring sports have all begun their schedules. For more information about softball, tennis and baseball rosters, player profiles and team schedules, etc., see athletic webpage .

The Lady Tiger Basketball Team leaves for the tournament

This e-mail from Athletic Director, Bob Marsh, was circulated last week: “Folks, everyone is invited to this afternoon's Tiger send-off scheduled for 2:30 pm at the Ed Pyle Sports Complex to honor our Lady Tiger basketball team who will be traveling to the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference basketball tournament for the first time in the school's history. We want to send off our ladies with as much enthusiasm as possible! The ladies are scheduled to play #1 seeded and nationally ranked College of the Ozarks at 7:30 pm on Friday. The winner will play for the MCAC conference championship at 7 pm on Saturday.” Unfortunately, the Lady Tigers were unable to get past top-ranked College of the Ozarks. Seniors Chelsea McHenry and Jodi Wright were named to the first team All-MCAC conference ladies’ team. Congratulations to these young ladies and to Coach Dave Bryant and his staff for a great season. They finished with a 20-12 record.

The CCC men's basketball team has set a new record for the most games won in Central's history as a four-year college with 14 victories. Our first year with four-year athletics was in 1999-2000, and the most wins we’ve had in any season since then was eleven. To God be the glory! Coach O'Brien, his staff and all his players are to be commended! Also, freshman Chris Crawford, son of Jay c’83 and Caroline Crawford has been named to the first team MCAC all-conference mens’ basketball team! Crawford scored 302 points, shot 45% from the field and 70% from the free throw stripe, and he had 154 rebounds and 9 blocked shots! Senior Louis Collins was named Honorable Mention MCAC! Collins was a four-year starter at CCC and the team captain. Congratulations to Chris & Louis, and to Coach Matt O'Brien and his staff and the entire 2007-2008 Tiger Basketball team! The team is in post-season play, facing Ecclesia College in Springdale Arkansas this evening (Friday) at 7 pm. If the Tigers win, they'll play Southwest Assemblies of God University in Dallas, Texas, on Monday, March 10.

Lady Tiger soccer coach, Mike Reimer, has announced the signing of two athletes for the 2008-2009 season. Bridgett Nesvarba, a 5’10” midfielder from Topeka West High School in Topeka, Kansas, signed a Letter-of-Intent to play soccer. Bridgett is the daughter of Cindy and Lonnie Nesvarba of Topeka, Kansas, and intends to major in psychology. Kirstie South, a 5’6” midfielder from McKinney Boyd High School in McKinney, Texas, also signed a Letter-of-Intent to play for the women’s soccer team at CCC. Kirstie is the daughter of Michelle and David South of McKinney, Texas, and intends to major in pre-physical therapy.

MISCELLANEOUS
Twenty-four senior and graduate students from an architecture class at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, were on campus in February for the purpose of taking pictures, looking over the campus, and meeting with a committee to produce a campus landscape plan for Central. The plan will include a design of the new Maple Street ‘Mall’ between Science Hall and the Broadhurst Student Center. They are working in groups of three and each group will present their plans to us on Monday, March 10, at KSU. We are excited to work with them and are anxious to see their ideas to “dress up” our campus.

The College Board of Trustees are attending their spring meeting on campus today. The initial session was held at the home of Dan c’77 and Marjean (Quastad c’77) Claassen, south of Newton, Kansas. Faculty and staff members and their spouses were guests at an appreciation dinner hosted by the Trustees at the Claassen’s following the first session. Following a western theme, it was a delightful time of interaction with the Central family.

WE NEED YOU
We would like to hear from you as soon as possible on two different ideas. First, Central will be celebrating it’s 125th anniversary next school year. A special commemorative issue of the BULLETIN will be published during the year. We are looking for stories of families who have a history with Central. Perhaps several family members have attended Orleans Seminary or Central, or possibly members of your family have served on the faculty or staff. We would be interested in learning about those connections. If you have photos from earlier years at Central, we would like to consider publishing those as well. We've developed a blog to allow you to post your stories. Or, if you prefer, you can send your story and/or photos to the Alumni Office via email or snail mail at Lanita Quastad, P.O. Box 1403, McPherson, KS 67460.

The second opportunity involves a new viewbook that is being produced for admissions recruiting purposes. We would like to include quotes from CCC alumni which could be used in the viewbook. There are four areas that are being highlighted: academics, athletics, campus life and spiritual life. (Note that these are our four basic objectives as a school, i.e. academic, physical, social, spiritual . . .“and Jesus grew in wisdom, stature and in favor with God and man.”) We would like to hear how your life was impacted in any of these areas during your years at Central. Your quote may be used to boost student recruitment at Central. The viewbook will be going to the printer soon. Please respond before March 17!

UPCOMING EVENTS
The concert choir will travel to Illinois for its’ spring tour next month. They would enjoy having you come out if you’re in the area. Here is their schedule: McPherson Free Methodist Church, 1010 S Maple Street, McPherson, Kansas, Sunday, April 6, 2008, 7:00 pm. (pre-tour concert); Knox Knolls Free Methodist Church, 2251 W Monroe, Springfield, Illinois, Thursday, April 10, 2008, 7:00 pm; Hillsboro Free Methodist Church, 1400 Seymour Avenue, Hillsboro, Illinois, Friday, April 11, 2008, 7:00 pm; Alton Emmanuel Free Methodist Church, 3993 Fosterburg Road, Alton, Illinois Sunday, April 13, 2008, 8:00 am and 10:30 am services.

If you would like to host a choir member(s) in your home, please contact the church pastor or Kim Sides at (620) 241-0723 x 323.

March 14 - Junior Preview Day
March 21-30 - Spring Break

PICTURES FROM THE PAST
While we received a number of correct guesses, the first person to identify the folks in the Queens’ court photo was Carolyn (Payton c’61) English. She correctly identified left to right - Marge (Sowers c’58) Hargadine (high school attendant); Queen, Deanna (Hiles c’59) Duello; and (College attendant) Rita (Kugler c‘58) Worthley.

Janelle (Eastman c’80, c’94) DeVries was the first to give the names of those in the Industrial Arts Shop photo. Those fellows were Galen Golay c’88 and Barry Pauls c’87. It seems the photo must have been taken in 1987 rather than 1988 as we had originally thought.

Working in the Industrial Arts shop - mid 1980s

Thanks for taking time to read this March 2008 issue of FIRST FRIDAY. Readers are added when we obtain new e-mail addresses. If you know of someone who should be added, or if you wish to be removed from the FF mailing list, let me know.

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Dr. Calvin H. Hawkins